S. Jersey jockey wins 5,200th race and retires

Jockey Anthony Black wins his 5,200th career victory with Smart Tori in the ninth race at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on Monday March 18, 2013. Tony Black rode and won his first race on June 15, 1970 at Liberty Bell Park (Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO)

By Joseph A. Gambardello, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Posted: March 20, 2013

Jockey Tony Black won his 5,200th race Monday, riding his son's horse Smart Tori to victory at Parx in Bensalem.

Black, 61, of Haddon Township, who won his first race in 1970 just out of high school, had said he would retire after hitting the 5,200 mark.

"The reality really hasn't sunk in," he said Monday night. "But I said I would and I am sticking with it. The best part is I did it on my son's horse."

Smart Tori, owned by Black's son Anthony, won the ninth race and paid $4.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show.